Helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) were sent to the scene of a bus accident at Assar in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The critically injured survivors were airlifted to Jammu by the helicopters. At Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, a bus plunged into a gorge, killing up to 38 people and injuring 19. According to Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, the bus carrying 55 people skidded off the Batote-Kishtwar national highway near Trungal-Assar and fell 300 feet downhill. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in a statement regarding the incident that the state government would look into what caused it.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the tragic Doda bus accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also said a helicopter service was being arranged to airlift the injured.